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Jaguars' push for state incentives comes up short

TALLAHASSEE - In front of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the Senate on Monday killed any chance the Jacksonville Jaguars had of getting a sales tax rebate for stadium improvements.

On a 35-4 vote, the chamber passed legislation setting up an application process that allows sports teams to apply for state incentive money in the future.

Goodell was in the Senate gallery with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and lobbyist Ron Book, who represents the team. Earlier in the day, Goodell spoke with Gov. Rick Scott and House Speaker Will Weatherfrod, R-Wesley Chapel, in support of the Dolphins bill.

Before the final vote, an amendment offered by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, carrying EverBank Field-specific language was withdrawn under pressure from Senate leaders.

There was fear that loading the bill (SB 306) up with amendments would have killed the proposal, which sets up an application process where teams can apply for a pot of $15 million in annual sports incentive money.

After chatting with Sen. Andy Gardiner, the Orlando Republican who is next-in-line to become Senate president, Bradley made a brief defense of the amendment before he withdrew the proposal. Nearly a dozen unrelated amendments were also withdrawn throughout the debate.

“What I wanted to do is get a feel for the room,” he said of making a defense after Senate leaders said they opposed his amendment.

The provision would have made the Jacksonville stadium eligible for a $2 million sales tax incentive over 30 years. There are still 12 years left on a sales tax rebate with similar terms given when the Jaguars entered the league in 1995. The team generates about $4.3 million in sales tax revenue each year.

After the amendment was killed, other area lawmakers defended the proposal.

“Jacksonville is a publicly owned stadium, it is not privately owned,” said Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. “Our desire this year was to make sure we could make renovations for the public, the people who own the stadium.”

A lobbyist for the Jaguars said the team would have no comment on the issue.

Stand-alone legislation carrying the provisions had stalled in both the House and Senate. In the House, Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville, amended the EverBank Field language onto an incentive bill for Daytona International Speedway — over the sponsor’s opposition — just to keep it alive.